Andy Schmidt Says Goodbye to Stan Lee

This blog has been cross-posted from Andy’s Facebook page, with his permission.

I’m sure you have all heard by now that Stan Lee, perhaps the chief architect of Marvel Comics, passed away at the age of 95.

There are a lot of things one could choose to discuss about Stan Lee, and most of those discussions are likely worth having.

But I’m not sad today. I feel the loss of a legend and icon whose work has meant deeply personal things to me and millions of other people. I feel that loss, yes. But in the case of Stan Lee, I have had occasion to tell him multiple times–including every year on his birthday when we would exchange emails usually lasting back and forth for a couple of days–how much his work meant to me and to so many others.

I never missed an opportunity to thank him and express my gratitude for his work.

I was never able to thank Jack Kirby or Steve Ditko or Stanley Kubrick or so many of the creative visionaries whose work helped shape my storytelling and aesthetic sensabilities.

I know he knew we cared and we appreciate his work. I know that because I told him and I told him for me, for my kids, and for everyone else who couldn’t.

I’m not sad today. But in just under two months, on December 27th, when he would have turned 96, I will feel the lack when I think to open my laptop and shoot off my happy birthday and thank you email to him and then stop myself.

So, one last time, for all of us…

Thank you, Stan.